GUEST BIOS

Reconciling Christians and
Jews

The 700 Club

Bill McCartney spent more than a decade as head of the phenomenally successful
men's ministry, Promise Keepers. When he attended their pastors' conference
in Phoenix, Ariz., in February 2003, he felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit
that his time with Promise Keepers was done. He says he spent the nine months
from March 12 to December 12, 2003, in the Lord's "waiting room"
as he sought confirmation on the next step in his life. He journaled daily
and even considered returning to coaching. The Lord told Bill to connect the
dots on how He had moved throughout Bill's life as he sought the Lord for
his future.

Back in the late '90s, Dr. Henry Blackaby came to minister to the Promise
Keepers staff. Dr. Blackaby said he had asked the Lord if there was any specific
word for Promise Keepers. Blackaby read all the words of Jesus in the four
gospels and was struck by the verse about Simon the Cyrene carrying the cross
for Jesus. Dr. Blackaby said God showed him that Bill was to carry the cross
of reconciliation. This resonated with Bill as he had been involved for years
with racial reconciliation.

Ephesians 2:14-16 says, "For He Himself is our peace, who made both
groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall by abolishing
in His flesh the enmity … that in Himself He might make the two into
one new man … and might reconcile them both in one body to God through
the cross, by it having put to death the enmity."

At the end of the nine month "birthing process," Bill says it was
clear that the Lord's calling for him was to work on the One New Man ministry,
which was renamed The Road to Jerusalem.

THE ROAD TO JERUSALEM

Soon after the Apostle Paul spoke to the Ephesians, the Jews were dispersed
throughout the world. It has only been in the last few decades that they have
returned and Israel has blossomed. Bill says that as the believing gentiles
and believing (Messianic) Jews come together as the one new man, there will
be the anointing to release the world's greatest revival. While many believing
Jews understand this today, the irony is that when Paul spoke of it, the believing
Jews didn't want to accept it, and now the believing gentiles don't want to
accept it.

Many Evangelicals are strong backers of Israel but keep Messianic Jews at
arm's length to maintain good relations with Jewish leaders. The Scripture
is clear that we embrace and help the believer first, then help the unbeliever.
It is a mandate from the Lord that the Messianic Jew, who has double honor,
be embraced, honored, and loved by the Christian who has single honor. Too
many Christian organizations help the unbelieving Jew first and neglect the
believing Jew. Bill says the Father heart of God is that His chosen people
will come to faith in His Son. With the rise of anti-Semitism, today the believing
Jew is rejected by both the Jews and the world. Bill contends Messianic Jews
are among the most oppressed believers of Jesus.

HOLY SHABBAT DINNER

On Friday, December 3, 2004, Road to Jerusalem will hold its inaugural event
at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, Calif. It will be the largest
shabbat service in the United States as Christians and Messianic Jews stand
together as ONE to demonstrate their love for each other, the Jewish community,
and Israel. As Christians they will not ignore the past sins against Jewish
people in the name of Christianity; rather, they will take responsibility
for them and become part of the healing balm. Bill says there will be repentance.
He anticipates a mighty move of God, including signs and wonders as promised
in Mark 16:20.